NL Roundup: Arroyo extends streak in Reds' win

Posted: September 8, 2012 - 11:47pm

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CINCINNATI — Bronson Arroyo extended his personal winning streak to five games, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips hit solo home runs and the first-place Cincinnati Reds bounced back from a frustrating loss with a 5-1 win over the last-place Houston Astros on Saturday night.

Phillips and Joey Votto both had two hits to help Arroyo improve to 8-1 over his last nine starts and 9-2 since July 6.

Arroyo (12-7) had at least one baserunner in every inning except the seventh — his last — but allowed just a first-inning run. The Astros had seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

■ Nationals 7

Marlins 6, 10 innings

WASHINGTON — Pinch hitter Corey Brown’s single drove in Ian Desmond with the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting the Washington Nationals to a victory over the Florida Marlins.

After Adam LaRoche singled off Chad Guadin (3-2) to open the inning, Desmond singled him to third and Danny Espinosa was intentionally walked to load the bases. Suzuki grounded into a fielder’s choice with LaRoche thrown out at home, but Brown followed with a bloop single to right.

■ Braves 11, Mets 3

NEW YORK — Kris Medlen extended Atlanta’s scoreless streak to 31 innings for its best string in more than 20 years, slumping Brian McCann drove in four runs with four hits and the Braves beat the New York Mets.

A tornado touched down in Queens about 15 miles away several hours before the game. Dark, ominous clouds swept in later, causing a 75-minute rain delay after the sixth inning.

■ Dodgers 3, Giants 2

SAN FRANCISCO — Hanley Ramirez hit a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers trimmed a game off their division deficit with a win against the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants.

Adrian Gonzalez led off the ninth with a triple against Jeremy Affeldt (1-2), then Ramirez came through with a double to the gap in right-center. That was the Dodgers’ first hit in 15 tries so far this series with runners in scoring position.

■ Cubs 4, Pirates 3

PITTSBURGH — Jeff Samardzija pitched the Cubs’ first complete game in his final start of the season and Chicago beat the fading Pittsburgh Pirates.

■ Brewers 6, Cardinals 3

ST. LOUIS — Aramis Ramirez had three hits, including his 22nd home run, to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

■ Rockies-Phillies ppd., rain

PHILADELPHIA — The Colorado Rockies game at the Philadelphia Phillies was rained out and will be played as part of a day-night doubleheader today. The first game is scheduled to start at 12:05 p.m. with the second game set to get under way at 5:35.